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E. Ahamed (29 April 1938 – 1 February 2017), Edappakath Ahamed in full,[1] was an Indian politician from Kannur (then Cannanore) in northern Kerala.[2] A Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) between 1991 and 2017, he was a key figure in India's diplomatic relations with the Middle East.[3]
E. Ahamed | |
|---|---|
 Ahamed in 2014 | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 2009–2017 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | P. K. Kunhalikutty |
| Constituency | Malappuram |
| In office 2004–2009 | |
| Preceded by | G. M. Banatwala |
| Succeeded by | E. T. Mohammed Basheer |
| Constituency | Ponnani |
| In office 1991–2004 | |
| Preceded by | Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait |
| Succeeded by | T. K. Hamza |
| Constituency | Manjeri |
| Minister of State for External Affairs | |
| In office 23 May 2004 – 26 May 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Minister | |
| Preceded by | Vinod Khanna |
| Succeeded by | V. K. Singh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 April 1938 Cannanore, Madras Presidency, British India (now Kerala) |
| Died | 1 February 2017 (aged 78) New Delhi |
| Political party |  Indian Union Muslim League |
| Spouse | Zuhara Ahamed |
| Children | 2 sons and 1 daughter |
| Alma mater | Brennen College, Tellicherry |
Educated at Brennen College, Tellicherry and Trivandrum Law College, Ahamed was first elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1967 (from Kannur, with Indian Union Muslim League).[2][4] He later served as a cabinet minister (Industry) in the U D F ministry headed by Congress-leader K. Karunakaran (1982–87).[4] He was first elected to the Parliament (Lok Sabha) in 1991.[4] Ahamed was appointed Union Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs, in 2004 (Congress-led U P A ministry headed by Manmohan Singh).[2] He also served as Union Minister of State for Railways and Human Resource Development.[2]
Ahamed served as the National President, Indian Union Muslim League between 2008 and 2017.[2][4] He was the first Indian Union Muslim League union minister in independent India.[5] In 2004, he was famously dispatched by Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the United Nations (Geneva) to represent India.[6][7]
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E. Ahamed was born on 29 April 1938 in a merchant family in Kannur, Malabar District (Now Kannur district, Kerala), to Edappakath Nafeesa Beevi and Ovintakath Abdul Khader.[2][1] He carried his mother's 'house name' as his initials as the tradition among the Cannanore Mappilas.[1]
He graduated from Government Brennen College, Tellicherry and later obtained a law degree from Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram.[2] He was the first General Secretary of the M. S. F., the students' wing of Indian Union Muslim League.[1] He also worked as a reporter for the Chandrika newsapaper.[1] Ahamed married Zuhara in 1961 (died in an accident in 1999).[2] The couple has three children.[2][8]
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In Kerala
| Mandate | Legislative Assembly | Constituency | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 3rd Assembly | Cannanore | Indian Union Muslim League |
| 1977 | 5th Assembly | Koduvally | |
| 1980 | 6th Assembly | Tanur | |
| 1982 | 7th Assembly | ||
| 1987 | 8th Assembly |
- Ahamed served as Minister for Industry from May 1982 to March 1987 (U D F ministry headed by Congress-leader K. Karunakaran).[4][1]
- He was a member of the Kerala and Calicut University Senate.[4] He was also Chairman, Kannur Municipal Council (1981–83).[4]
- He also served as the founder Chairman, Kerala State Rural Development Board (1971–77), and Chairman, Kerala Small Industries Development Corporation.[4][2]
- Ahamed was chosen as the General Secretary, Indian Union Muslim League in 1995.[2]
Career in national politics
| Mandate | Constituency | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Manjeri | Indian Union Muslim League |
| 1996 | ||
| 1998 | ||
| 1999 | ||
| 2004 | Ponnani | |
| 2009 | Malappuram | |
| 2014 |
- From 2004 to 2009, Ahamed served as the Minister of State for External Affairs.[2] From 2009 to 2011, he was the Minister of State for Railways.[2] He assumed charge again as Minister of State for External Affairs in early 2011.[2] Ahamed also held the additional charge of the Union Minister of State, Human Resource Development 2011 to 2012.[2]
Other positions
President
Member
- Board of the Medical College, Pariyaram, Kerala[2]
- Managing Committee, MEA Engineering College, Malappuram[2]
- Executive Council, Aligarh Muslim University[2]
- Central Haj Committee[2]
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- Ahamed represented India in the United Nations several times between 1991 and 2014.[9][1]
- Special Emissary, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to the Gulf (1984).[9]
- Chairman, Crisis Management Group (Iraq hostage crisis, August–September 2004).[2]
| Kerala Government | ||
| Period | Portfolio | Chief Minister |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 – 1987 | Industry | K. Karunakaran |
| Union Government | ||
| Period | Portfolios | Prime Minister |
| 2004 – 2014 | Junior Minister
|
Manmohan Singh |
Ahamed died on 1 February 2017 after suffering a cardiac arrest in a joint session of Parliament.[10][9] He was buried with full state honours at the Kannur City Juma Masjid.[11]
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